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The biography documented reflects the year of AMALI's participation and should not be considered the most recent update.

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Oarabile Motlaleng

Oarabile Motlaleng

4th Cohort 2026

Mayor of Gaborone, Botswana

Gaborone, Botswana

Oarabile Motlaleng has been serving as the mayor of Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, since December 2024. He rose to the position after a decade as councillor for Naledi North, a ward he first won in 2014. A seasoned grassroots mobiliser and political leader, he is widely recognised for his people-centred approach to service delivery and community development.  Upon assuming office, he set his sights on modernising Gaborone to compete with the best cities in the world. His priorities include improving revenue collection, enhacing city illumination, upgrading infrastructure, vegetation control, and promoting public health. To drive this, he spearheaded the formation of an Investment Committee and establishment of a dedicated company to drive the council’s investment strategies. Through an ongoing partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Botswana, council staff are undergoing training to capacitate them for this new venture. Under his leadership, Gaborone will host the 2026 World Athletics Relay, making it the first African country to host the prestigious event. In preparation, the council has launched a campaign encouraging residents and local entrepreneurs to seize opportunities linked to the event. Mayor Motlaleng prides himself on maintaining open communication channels with residents, ensuring that community voices shape the city’s development agenda.